Movie Cosmos - Saturday the 14th

Description:

After his family moves to a new house, a young boy discovers a mysterious book that details a curse hanging over the date of Saturday the 14th. Opening the book releases a band of monsters into the house and the family must join together to save themselves and their neighborhood.

Top Cast >

Richard Benjamin

As John

Paula Prentiss

As Mary

Jeffrey Tambor

As Waldemar

Severn Darden

As Van Helsing

Kari Michaelsen

As Debbie

Kevin Brando

As Billy

Rosemary DeCamp

As Aunt Lucille

Carole Androsky

As Marge

Roberta Collins

As Cousin Rhonda

Stacy Keach, Sr.

As Attorney

Allen Joseph

As Uncle Bert

Nancy Lee Andrews

As Yolanda

Paul "Mousie" Garner

As The Major

Annie O'Donnell

As Annette Muldowney

Thomas Newman

As Cousin Phil

Craig Coulter

As Deliveryperson

Renee Braswell

As Stuntperson

Elizabeth Charlton Davey

As French Maid

Irwin Russo

As Truck Driver

Michael Miller

As Ernie Muldowney

Patrick Campbell

As Mailman (uncredited)

Bob Esensten

As Attorney Delivering Boxes #1 (uncredited)

Stephen Kurzfeld

As Attorney Delivering Boxes #2 (uncredited)

Top Crew >

Howard R. Cohen

Screenplay, Director

Parmer Fuller

Original Music Composer

Joanne D'Antonio

Editor

Kent Beyda

Editor

Julie Corman

Producer

Daniel Lacambre

Director of Photography

Jeff Begun

Story, Co-Producer

Arlene Alen

Production Design, Art Direction

John Wright

Set Decoration

Tony Randel

Effects Supervisor, Visual Effects Editor

Mary Waid

Hairstylist

R. Christopher Biggs

Special Effects Makeup Artist

Kathryn Fenton

Makeup Artist

Reviews:

Wuchak (5/10)

Fun horror spoof, albeit one-dimensional and underwhelming

A normal family (Richard Benjamin, Paula Prentiss, et al.) inherits a creepy mansion in Erie, Pennsylvania, but a centuries-old vampire & his bride (Jeffrey Tambor & Nancy Lee Andrews) are also interested in the house. Severn Darden shows up as Van Helsing. Fun shenanigans ensue.

“Saturday the 14th” (1981) is comedy-horror that doesn’t spoof, “Friday the 13th,”, as the title implies, but rather Dracula flicks, “Jaws,” “The Creature from the Black Lagoon,” “The Birds,” and various other creature features. The movie has a good heart and is amusing in a silly way, but the setting is limited to the mansion and the story’s not compelling enough. The potential of the script needed further milked.

Nevertheless, Kari Michaelsen as the daughter perks things up on the feminine front. She was 19 during shooting, but looks 15-16. Meanwhile Nancy Lee Andrews as the vampire bride is sharp, but not enough is done with her (she, incidentally, was engaged to Ringo Starr at one point).

The film runs 1 hour, 15 minutes.

GRADE: C

2020-03-23